Can You Plant Roses in January?

Late winter and early spring are pivotal times in rose health and generally the best times to prune for shape. This process fosters new growth and removes winter dieback. It’s also an ideal timeframe for planting roses across many climates.

January, though, rides the cusp of mid-winter variables. Weather varies greatly by growing zone and microclimate. Gardeners in warm areas, especially tropical and subtropical frost-free zones, can plant roses this month without concern. If your area experiences below-freezing conditions, imminent frost, or the ground is frozen, it’s preferable to hold off on planting until the weather is consistently warmer. 

January is the time to source roses and hone in on new additions to plant in the ground in the not-too-distant future. Planting in optimal conditions promotes long-lived, low-maintenance, reliable growers for years of beauty. Here’s everything you need to know.

When to Plant Roses

Late winter, early spring, and fall are the best times to plant roses. The cool conditions and seasonal moisture pose the least stress on the new plant without exposing tender growth to freezing or hot situations. Temperatures between 40-60°F (4-16°C) are ideal. But you can plant roses any time of year outside of frozen or waterlogged soils or drought conditions (which cause stress and hinder growth), which means January may not be ideal in frigid climates.

Roses can go in the ground before spring’s final frost; prolonged frigid conditions are what you need to watch for because they create stressful environments for new specimens to acclimate and develop roots. Exposure to freezing soils and air temperatures can cause dieback. Instead of “storing” roses in the cold garden, leave them at the grower until your area is prime for planting.

Bare Root

Bare root roses arrive dormant and without soil in the cool season. At planting, the roots develop as they meet soil volume and moist and warm conditions, and upper growth quickly ensues for summer blooming. 

Some growers ship year-round, others in fall through spring, and some only ship in fall or late winter/early spring. Knowing your growing zone is important in timing the arrival of bare root selections. You can order in advance, scheduling delivery when planting conditions are right so the rose can move quickly into its garden location. 

In cold and moderate climates (zones 1-7), January is a good time to explore and source roses but not to plant them. Comb through your favorites to make your selections. If ordering from specialty growers, do so now to reserve the best picks, scheduling delivery later in the season. Warmer zones (8-11) can plant roses in January as conditions suit.

In Containers

Container roses are available for planting year-round, including January. Local nurseries are an excellent resource for purchasing them at the appropriate time for your area. This is usually in spring, as leaves and stems flush and may show budding. 

Larger retail outlets may offer them even earlier, and it’s tempting as we get excited to plant, but keep your zone and microclimate in mind prior to installation. If ordering container specimens, opt for a spring delivery in cold climates.

Account for Growing Zone

To help navigate when to plant roses, we’ll break it out by growing zone. Zone recommendations offer a very general guide, as the weather varies significantly by area and seasonally, even within the same growing zone (weather in my zone 8b in coastal Carolina varies from that in coastal Washington, for example, even though the winter temperatures are in the same range).

Frost Date and Weather Variables

Local climate is the most important factor in determining when to plant roses. Six weeks before your final frost date is usually well-suited to planting.

If your area experiences drastic fluctuations in temperature and moisture in late winter, take this as a queue to wait until spring for planting. For many of us, even in moderate zones, January and early February usher in frigid conditions. Given the option, hold off to preserve long-lasting rose health and vigor.

Workable Soils

While there are ideal conditions for planting, roses can technically go in the ground anytime soils are workable, which sometimes excludes January. Avoid frozen soils, as they shock roots. Planting in wet, saturated, soggy situations is not ideal for installation, either. 

Avoid rainy, cold days in late winter or early spring if the soil is hard to work with or sticks to the shovel in large clumps. 

Dry conditions, too, pose stress, so ensure even moisture after planting or water the hole prior to and post-install to hydrate the area for roots. You can plant roses in the summer, too, but they’ll need extra attention in hot climates.

Cold Snap Post-Planting

If you plant in warm weather (that ideal 40-60°F or 4-16°C temperature range) and then a cold snap pops up, protect the crown with a mulch cover or frost cloth.

In cold climates where spring still holds below-freezing conditions, insulate newly planted dormant roses with mulch or compost. This offers protection against freezing conditions for young plants until the weather moderates.

Choosing Hardy Selections

Once established, the flowering shrubs withstand winter situations across growing zones and climate conditions, but they benefit from winter protection below zone 6. Insulation varies from an extra layer of mulch to a leafy crown cover or frost-cloth barrier, depending on winter extremes. Hardiness varies by type of rose.

Hybrid teas, floribundas, and grandifloras are most susceptible to damage from low temperatures and rapid changes. Most old garden roses, shrub, species, and landscape roses are exceptionally winter hardy. Some miniatures, polyanthas, and climbers boast good chill thresholds, too.

Future Winter Protection

Extra winter protection for mature shrubs defends against freezing and thawing fluctuations, which damage tissues. The aim of winterizing is to maintain a uniform cold state, especially at the lower branch, crown, and root zones.

Many modern hybrids are grafted, where breeders fuse the upper growth of one variety with the rootstock of another for hardiness, disease resistance, and other selected traits. The graft union, where the upper growth meets the base, is sensitive to frigid conditions. If the union is cold-damaged, the upper growth suffers.

Own root selections are less vulnerable. These specimens grow from cuttings with their original roots. Those that die back in winter may recover if the roots are healthy.

In warmer zones (7 and higher), extra mulch is usually sufficient for overwintering. Topdress with two to three inches of mulch (bark, compost, clean straw, chopped leaves, evergreen boughs) for insulation. Colder climates (zone 6 and lower) need more winterizing, depending on the selection.

Growing in Pots

Roses grow beautifully in containers in well-draining soils. Treat these as you would in-ground specimens in gauging when and how to plant, but keep in mind that pots lack the insulation of surrounding soil mass. Because of their above-ground siting, only a thin wall protects roots from surrounding air temperatures. The soil is susceptible to frost heaving, leading to root disturbance and damage.

Long-term, opt for a variety one to two zones hardier than your growing zone. And use a large container. A large pot houses more soil volume and root mass and has the best chance of overwintering. 

In mild climates, insulate with a thermal blanket or burlap cover during cold snaps and windy spells. In colder climates, more protection may be necessary to ward off damage.